A 2008 study in the journal Neurology found that having a few extra pounds around your belly in midlife can increase your chances of suffering from dementia later in life.

The study, led by Rachel Whitmer, PhD, uncovered the following key findings:

• People who were overweight and had a large belly were 2.7 times more likely to develop dementia than people with a normal weight and belly size. Abdominal obesity is a waistline measuring greater than 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men.
• People who were both obese and had a large belly were 3.6 times more likely to develop dementia.
• People who were not overweight but had extra belly fat nonetheless were 1.9 times more likely to develop dementia.

These findings are important because, while it's well known that a lot of belly fat increases risk of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease, this is the first time researchers made a distinct connection between belly fat and risk of dementia.

Dr. Whitmer, a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, says, "Considering that 50 percent of adults in this country have abdominal obesity, this is a disturbing finding."

What's more, Dr. Whitmer adds, "These findings imply that the dangerous effects of abdominal obesity on the brain may start long before the signs of dementia appear."

Researchers studied 6,583 Kaiser Permanente members in Northern California who had their belly fat measured between 1964 and 1973 (when they were in their forties). An average of 36 years later, they determined that 16 percent had been diagnosed with dementia.

All in all, this study is further proof that reducing body fat with diet and exercise isn't just good for your body—it's good for your mind.

Check out Dr. Whitmer's television appearance on KGO-TV, ABC's "The View from the Bay" on April 1, 2008, where she discusses the correlation between belly fat and dementia.

filed in: State of Health
subjects: diet, disease-prevention, weight loss